Physics Department

Electricity and Magnetism

Laboratory
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CIRCULAR
MOTION

1
IMPORTANT:
 Include units and errors in all measurements and calculations.
 In every plot: name the axis and their units, and plot experimental data
points with error bars.
 Least-squares fits will be drawn on the same graph as experimental data.

1. Uniform circular motion.

1.1 Initial measurements

 Thickness of the rod:

d = 6.6±0.1 (mm) = 0.0066±0.0001 (m)

 Radius of rotation (distance from the photogate to the axis of rotation):

R = 12.1±0.1 (cm)= 0.121±0.001 (m)

1.2 Measurements of linear velocity and angular velocity.

t2 ± 0.001 (s) t3± 0.001 (s)

0.058 6.669

Velocity 1 0.056 6.667

0.060 6.665
0.040 4.281

Velocity 2 0.039 4.289

0.036 4.281
0.030 3.162

Velocity 3 0.032 3.157

0.028 3.160

2
 t2± 0.001 (s) t3± 0.001 (s)
0.022 2.502
0.020 2.501
Velocity 4
0.024 2.498
0.021 2.064
0.020 2.072
Velocity 5
0.017 2.064

Calculate mean values for each group of measurements and fill in the following table:

t2 t3
t´2 (s) t´3(s)

0.058± 0.002 6.667 ± 0.002

0.038± 0.002 4.283± 0.004

0.030± 0.002 3.160± 0.002

0.022± 0.002 2.500± 0.002

0.019± 0.002 2.060± 0.008

Analytic expression used for the computation of the error in t2 and t3 columns.
The standard deviation of the measured values is represented by εacc (t ) and is given by the formula:
5

√
εacc (t )= ∑ (t i−t)2
i=1
3
The uncertainty of the mean value of both
standard deviation t=max ⁡¿ε acc ,
t´2 and t´3will be the maximum value of either the systematic error or the
εp), where εp=0.001 s.

The linear velocity of the rod is obtained as v=d/ t2 , and angular velocity as ω=/ t3 . Fill in
the following table.
V (m/s) ω(rad/s)

0.114 ± 0.006 0.4712 ± 0.0001

0.17 ± 0.01 0.7335 ± 0.0007

0.22± 0.02 0.9942± 0.0006

0.30± 0.03 1.257± 0.001

0.35 ± 0.04 1.525± 0.006

Analytic expression used for the computation of the error in v y ω columns.

1 d π
∆ v= (
t́ 2 )
∆ d+ ∆ t́ 2 ∆ ω= 2 ∆ t́ 3
t́ 2 t́ 3

1.3 Plot the linear velocity as a function of the angular velocity v(ω)

1.4. Least-squares line fit of y = v as a function of x = ω.

 Results of the least-squares fit:

- Slope: m =(0.23±0.03) m/rad

- y-intercept: b =(0.00± 0.03) m/s

 Analytical interpretation of the fit parameters m and b, based on equation [1].

The elements determined above (m, b) through the least-square method as well as the graphic
drafted display a linear relation between the variables y (linear velocity, v) and x (angular velocity,
ω ) which obeys the following equation: y=mx+b, where the slope (m) is expressed in m/rad and
the y-axis intercept (b) is indicative of the error concentrated throughout the process.
v
According to equation 1: v=ω R ,where R= . Therefore, the slope ,m, previously calculated can
ω
be identified with R.

R=m

Using the previous analytical interpretation and the results of the fit, obtain the radius
of rotation R. Compare the obtained value with the measured one (section 1.1).

Numeric value: R=

2. Uniformly accelerated circular motion.

2.1. Initial measurements

 Radius of the cylinder where the string is wound up.

r =(11.7 ±0.1) mm

 Radius of rotation (distance from the photogate to the axis of rotation):

R =(11.9 ±0.1)cm

2.2. Measurement of linear velocity for several angles from beginning of motion.

A. Take the experimental measurements with 10g weight on top of the weight holder,
this is, a total mass M=15g.

To calculate the linear velocity of the rod and its associated error, take into account the
expressions used in section 1.2. Fill in the following table.
θ0rad ln(θ) t20.001 (s) v (cm/s) ln(v)

π /2 0.064 10.00.3 2.30 0.03

0.451582705
3 π /2 1.55019499 0.037 17.3 0.7 2.85 0.04

5 π /2 2.06102062 0.028 22.91.2 3.12 0.05

2.39749285 0.023 281 3.33 0.06

7 π /2
9 π /2 2.64880728 0.020 322 3.470.07

Analytic expression used for the computation of the error in v y ln(v) columns.
1 d 1
∆ v= (
t́ 2 ) | |
∆ d+ ∆ t́ 2 ∆∈ ( v ) = ∆ v
t́ 2 v

Represent ln(v) as a function of ln(θ)

Least-squares line fit of y = ln(v) as a function of x = ln(θ).

Results of the least-squares fit:

- Slope: m =(0.53±0.03)

- y-intercept: b =(2.05±0.06)

 Analytical interpretation of the fit parameters m and b, based on equation [10].

Using the previous analytical interpretation and the results of the fit, obtain the angular
acceleration 15g .

Numeric value: 15g

B. Repeat the experimental measurements of section A with a 20g weight on top of the
weight holder, this is, a total mass M=25g.

θ0rad ln(θ) t20.001 (s) v (cm/s) ln(v)

π /2 0.050 12.80.5 2.55 0.04

0.451582705
3 π /2 1.55019499 0.027 24 1 3.17 0.05

5 π /2 2.06102062 0.023 282 3.33 0.07

2.39749285 0.019 342 3.52 0.07

7 π /2
9 π /2 2.64880728 0.016 403 3.690.08

Graphical representation of ln(v) versus ln(θ)

Least-squares line fit of y = ln(v) as a function of x = ln(θ).

Results of the least-squares fit:

- Slope: m =(0.50±0.04)

- y-intercept: b =(2.34±0.07)

 Analytical interpretation of the fit parameters m and b, based on equation [10].

Using the previous analytical interpretation and the results of the fit, obtain the angular
acceleration 25g .

Numeric value: 25g =

2.3. Calculation of the moment of inertia of the rod.

Analytic expressions for the moment of inertia I of the rod, as well as its associated error as
obtained by error propagation (sec. 5.2):

I=

I =

Numeric values using each of the angular acceleration values obtained in the previous section:

I15g =

I25g =

Questions

1. Should the same value for the moment of inertia be obtained in both cases?

3. Discussion of the results obtained in the experiment.